mgarcia0487

So a few days ago as iI got to my xj and turned on the lights, my dash lights immediately shut off, at first i thought it was just a fuse so when i fonally had a chance to change it out (fuse was blown) it didn't work!? Now I dont know what to do, it's my daily driver and I need lights when i drive to work at 5am. Any help is appreciated.

LiamLikeNeeson

Is it just your dash lights?

mgarcia0487

Negative, all auxiliary lights, corner lights, tail lights dash lights

jay_sco

Did the new fuse blow too?
And aren't the interior/exterior lights on seperate circuits?

mgarcia0487

Seems like there's a short somewhere, it originally calls for a 10 amp cuse, but í por in a 15 just in case. But it still doesn't turn on and the new fuse dick blow.

As far as I know the inside and outside lights are connected. According to the fuse diagram I found online.

LiamLikeNeeson

Same thing happened to me yesterday lol. If there is exposed wire touching metal anywhere on the lighting system it will act *** a ground in the wrong place and short the system. There is a little box with short wires coming out of it behind the battery. Those wires are fusable links. Basically fuses in wire form. You can find the bad one by seein which one stretches way too much. But check for the ground thing I mentioned. My problem was the hood light wire was touching bare metal on the hood because the metal was exposed and would short the system when ever if close the hood. And also check the plug that goes to the headlight switch under the dash to see if the connections are melted if you can't find the problem under the hood.

mgarcia0487

Thanks, would a short cause the actual headlight switch to go bad?

LiamLikeNeeson

It could but I'm not 100% sure. I don't have any special harness right now and my headlights and fogs are still super bright even compared to my moms 2003 Lexus SUV. And they switch hasn't burnt out yet. But I when they shorted yesterday my mechanic and I decided to split the 3 wires so they connect to 3 different fusable links (they are typically 18 gauge but the replacement link I got are 16 and they're fine so far) so the load is spread accords 3 different fusable link wires rather than just 1 and then all coming together on the box thingy. I am in the Sierra Nevada's until Sunday and I didn't bring my jeep but I will take pics when I get back for you. I like having fog lights and high beams which you won't have if you put in a harness. One day I'm sure I'll need to put one in but I'm fine for now.

LiamLikeNeeson

This is how I rewired the lighting wires. 3 separate fusible links (the grey wires crimped on to the red wires) splits the load and should help it last longer. But check the wiring that goes into the headlights (the hole that is right behind them when you look inside the engine compartment) and make sure there are no wires touching bare metal. That will cause the short.